Keeping tracks on Jenson; Jenson Button has quickly blossomed into an

IN Melbourne, a few hours before the first qualifying session of his Formula One career, Jenson Button crashed heavily, damaging both his car and his confidence.

The car was repaired but at the end of the qualifying hour he was a lowly 21st out of 22 on the grid and was refusing to come out to face the music from the media.

A howl of outrage went out; after all, these were the very journalists who had created the enormous hype around Button's arrival in F1. Now he had failed at the first hurdle, which was itself a big story, and he was refusing to play the game. Eventually he was coaxed out and sheepishly he made his excuses. The following day, he was running strongly in the points in sixth place when his engine blew up.

It was a tense moment for the 20-year- old as he learned that in F1 you have to take the rough with the smooth, but since then he has conducted himself with the poise of a veteran and, as he enters the final race of his debut season in Malaysia today, he can rightly reflect on his stunning progression into one of the sport's brightest stars. BMW boss and former driver Gerhard Berger believes that Button will be world champion in five years' time. Many in F1 believe it will be sooner.

"It has been a little bit up and down, but I have to say that it's been the best year of my life so far," says Button. "Being with such a great team as BMW Williams I've learned so much and it's really kicked off my Formula One career. I'm really looking forward to the next decade.

"It's actually been more difficult than I thought it would be. When I first drove an F1 car I thought 'this is easy', but when you get to the first race and you are up against 21 great drivers it's pretty tough."

The wave of hype surrounding Button before his debut meant that expectations were high. Yet amazingly he has exceeded them, scoring 12 points and outqualifying his illustrious teammate Ralf Schumacher five times.

There have been many high points, such as qualifying third at Belgium's daunting Spa Francorchamps circuit and outqualifying and out-racing Schumacher two weeks ago in Suzuka, Japan, one of the real drivers' circuits. Perhaps his most impressive performance, however, was at Hockenheim in Germany, where he was the fastest man on the track in the closing stages of the race in treacherous conditions, "I learned a lot that weekend in those difficult conditions," says Button. "When half the circuit is dry and half of it is wet you really get a feel for the car and I think it showed because I was able to finish just behind David Coulthard in fourth position. I really felt at one with the car, I could feel things I hadn't felt before from it and that carried on from that weekend until now."

Having surpassed the expectations others had of him, including Frank Williams, how does his performance this year weigh against his own expectations? "I didn't really know what to expect at the start of this year," he says, "but I'm happy with the points I have scored and the qualifying as well.

"That's what I really lacked at the start of the year, to be able to just go out there and get the best from the car over one lap. I've got a lot of experience.

"I feel at home in F1, it feels like I've been here a long time. I've fitted in well with the team - they've welcomed me with open arms.

"A lot of people said that Williams are really tough to work with but it's been a really good year. It's just a pity to be leaving them."

Many outside the sport, and quite a few within it, find it hard to understand how Williams could release Button after such an explosive debut season. But next year his seat will be taken by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, who has been on contract with Williams since 1998, while racing in the American Champ Car series.

Button is being farmed out to Benetton Renault for the next two years, but he will return to Williams in 2003 in place of either Montoya or Schumacher. It seems an odd arrangement, but Williams has made many odd decisions on drivers over the years, such as releasing both Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill just as they won the world championship.

Ralf Schumacher has gone on record as saying that he would prefer Button to stay, as he feels they are a winning team. He has been surprisingly vocal about Montoya. Last week he questioned the Colombian's reputation as a swaggering cowboy who wins races because he takes big risks.

"The day he starts driving and is not quick enough it will be difficult," said Schumacher. "If not, everything will be fine. But remember he was fighting with Nick Heidfeld in Formula 3000 for the championship and Nick seems to have found it a bit difficult to adapt to Formula One. He's going to be quick, but obviously he's putting a lot of pressure on himself by having that reputation and by saying what he's saying."

Williams is taking a chance on Montoya, but feels that he is backing a winner. Either way, Button serves as an insurance policy in the event that either Montoya fails or Schumacher asks for too much money for a new contract. For his part, Button is philosophical about temporarily losing his place at Williams.

"It's more down to Frank's decision than anything else," he says. "At the start of the season I sort of knew that I wouldn't be with Williams in 2001 but I didn't know for certain.

"Frank had already made a decision on Montoya before he and I made an agreement, which is fair enough. But I'm with Benetton for the next two years. I hope we can do a good job with the new car.

"A lot of people say I'm stepping down by going to Benetton, but I don't think so. I'm sure we'll be at the same level. I hope I can push on and have a couple of good years and then I'm back here again at Williams. Hopefully by then I'll be looking at a world championship.

"I have to win this thing. Winning has always been my aim in life, not just competing. I would stop now if I didn't believe that."

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